PHOTOBIOREACTOR WITH MATS MADE FROM LIGHT-DECOUPLING OPTICAL FIBRES AND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE FIBRES GENERATING A TRAVELLING ELECTRIC FIELD

• US 20170198244A1
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Published: 07/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Original Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Inventors: GBEL, Johann, WAGNER, Jennifer, SCHREIBER, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,723,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/00 Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics growth substrates therefor A01G24/00; cultivation of seaweed A01G33/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 33/00 Cultivation of seaweed or algae
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/04 Electric or magnetic or acoustic treatment of plants for promoting growth
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/08 by conducting or reflecting elements located inside the reactor or in its structure
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/00 Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/08 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices or plants for production of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/00 Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/275 Carbon fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/283 synthetic polymer-based, e.g. polyamide or polyester fibres cellulose-based artificial fibres D03D15/225
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/292 Conjugate, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, fibres or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/533 antistatic; electrically conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/547 with optical functions other than colour, e.g. comprising light-emitting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/12 Carbon; Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/16 antistatic; conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/20 optical

Abstract

A photobioreactor is described for cultivating phototrophic organisms and in particular a mat, as can be used in one such photobioreactor. The mat has a plurality of first fibres which are light conductive along their longitudinal direction and are constructed to decouple light conducted in the longitudinal direction laterally, at least somewhat transversely to the longitudinal direction. The mat furthermore has a plurality of second fibres which are electrically conductive along their longitudinal direction. With the aid of one such mat, light can on the one hand be coupled in the interior of a photobioreactor. On the other hand, a travelling electric alternating field can be generated by applying a suitable polyphase voltage by means of a voltage source with the aid of electrically conductive second fibres. This alternating field can act on electrically charged particles.

Claims

1. A mat, comprising:

a first plurality of first fibres which are light conductive along their longitudinal direction and are constructed to decouple light conducted in the longitudinal direction laterally at least somewhat transversely to the longitudinal direction; and

a second plurality of second fibres which are electrically conductive along their longitudinal direction.

2. The mat according to claim 1, wherein the first and second fibres are interwoven with one another.

3. The mat according to claim 1, wherein the second fibres are constructed as carbon fibres with an electrically conductive polymer or with a precious metal.

4. The mat according to claim 1, wherein the second fibres are constructed in a radially internal region using an electrically insulating material and are coated using an electrically conductive layer in a region that is located radially further out.

5. The mat according to claim 1, wherein the second fibres are light-conductive in a radially inner region and coated using an electrically conductive and optically transparent layer in a region that is located radially further out.

6. The mat according to claim 1, wherein the second fibres are encapsulated with an electrically insulating layer.

7. The mat according to claim 1, wherein the second fibres are arranged parallel to one another.

8. The mat according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second fibres has a first, a second, and a third subgroup of second fibres, wherein the subgroups are electrically insulated from one another.

9. The mat according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of second fibres of the first, second and third subgroup are arranged in a cyclical pattern.

11. The mat arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the voltage source has at least three electrodes,

wherein the plurality of second fibres has at least one first, one second, and one third subgroup of second fibres, wherein the subgroups are electrically insulated from one another,

wherein each of the subgroups is electrically connected to only one of the electrodes, and

wherein the voltage source is configured to generate a polyphase current in the second fibres connected to the electrodes.

12. A photobioreactor for cultivating phototrophic organisms, wherein the photobioreactor comprises:

a container in which the phototrophic organisms can be accommodated together with a nutrient solution, and

at one mat arrangement according to claim 9, wherein mats of the mat arrangement are arranged inside the container.

13. The photobioreactor according to claim 11, wherein the voltage source is configured to generate a polyphase current in the second fibres connected to the electrodes in such a manner that a travelling electric alternating field is generated adjacently to the associated mat.

14. The photobioreactor according to claim 12, wherein a travelling direction generated by the travelling electric alternating field is directed to a harvest region of the photobioreactor.

10. A mat arrangement, comprising:

a mat,

a first plurality of first fibres which are light conductive along their longitudinal direction and are constructed to decouple light conducted in the longitudinal direction laterally at least somewhat transversely to the longitudinal direction;

a second plurality of second fibres which are electrically conductive along their longitudinal direction; and

an electric voltage source which is electrically connected to the second fibres.